Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-12

one % Hn DrscIrLEs-rHE PRESENT status AND
yrruaz ExPscrATIoSs OF voLAPUr.
A STAR reporter had talk the other day with
Hr. W. J. Hughes. stenographer in the Depart
uent OF Justice. who heads the movement In this
vicinity for the propagation Of the new tongue
called volaplk.
Vow, In The frst place. said Mr.. Hughes,
'the pronunciation OF the word is not voiapeek,
nor volapook, nor yet volapewk. The Is sounded
long, a 10 coat; the In fath 7, and the
accented vowel-the dotted n-in the last syllable,
Ike the French u. Try t. Yes, that's correct
"well, volapak Is a scientific system, the prin-
ciples Of which are commended by the leading
philoiogfsts Of the world, designed IS means OF
International communication. II Is the Invention
Of Rev. Johann Martin schleyer. OF Constance,
Baden, Germany, man OF very high linguistic at
tainments speaking and writing overweight
language and familiar with about as many more.
He invented the system Ia 1878, announced IL In
lS1p, and had 50 Tar Completed u IN 1881 that pc
putnshed In that year his nrst book on the sub
tect. The name volapdk comes from VIOLA (of the
worldD and puk Qalg,isge), literally, the language
o. tue world The movement soon got foothold
70 Germany whence ~ sPrea1 n,csv sw1ze a nfG
favor, and from there 10 the other countries
90 Europe. There are now over 100000 per-
eleven Periodicals are published In &c, and numer-
Gus societies are devoting their energies TO It's
prupagation- Ii this soantry attention was hrst
directed 10 10 through an article BY Richmond
Walker In the American Magazine, and since that
tine q large number OF people have become inter-
has been no textbook rendered into English ex-
ptainins the language, ngn within 2 lew days
gentleman In New YORK win issue full and COM
prvhensive grammar OF it. There are now four
societies Of Vo.apukists in the United states, and
expect 70 start another one here for Its study. II
The people OF Washington take enough inter 81 In
the subject Business men see It's utility, and are
adopting IL as Is evidenced by the fact that rep
rsentaLive technical business paper Of New YORK
ha1 q ri man
HWhat Is the use OF the languagef1
"Its USE said Mr.. Hughes, Evil be confined for
between the nations, and 20 It's adoption 10 that
direction the Efforts OF the promoters OF the move
meot are now being given Several large concerns
ployees 70 learn II, and the sign yolapukOn Is now
neQuently seen In those countries. A few years
ago saortasnd was unknown 10 6usnessi to-day
but OF course, In somewhat different held.
voiapuk Is economical ia It's use OF words, which
should commend IL for tel sSraphic correspondence.
But, In addition to Its commercial uses IL has adj
vantsges Tor the scientist, In enabling him 10 give
los oy percolaIion through the various languages
A it Is not mere pasigraphic system, Intended
70 be written and read oaly but can be used orally,
Stand and be understandable wherever he may be
IN The civilized world. Then II may come into use
among diplomats, because us adoption would put
the representatives Of all nations on an equal
footins."
rs i easy to acquire7" asked the reporter.
student 10 familiar with Engiish grammar" was
the reply; ''or, II not. In two months easy study.
Just look at the simplicity OF its construction
The language Is absolutely phonetic. and every
rule II invarable, there being no exceptions what.
ever. The alphabet Is almost the same as English;
there Are DO articles; about 30 per cent OF the
nocns are taken from Enslish-thst ia wherever
simple monosyllabic word has been found it has
been adopted The nouns are Declined oy the
mere addition OF the vowelS Let me illustrate:
SINGULAR
Nom. man, man. or the or man.
Cen mana, OF the or q man
Dat name. 10 the or man.
AZ. want, man.
y, nnas, men, or the men
g. Udnas, or men or or the men.
d. psdses, 70 men or 70 the men.
A Bsoais, men,
the Lester q Every noun Is declined in exactly
that way. The edjectiveS are formed from the
nouns by the addition of tx, thus fam glory
F11sik glorious; and the adverbs from the adjec.
iousD.
The pronous are:
%, obs, we
OF thou obs you
ON, he oyns, they
~, snc Us, they.
%. IL.
these are Declined In precisely the same manner
a. the nouns The verbs are formed from the
nouns thus, iof (oyel, oo,-adding the pronoun,
youn notiee-I love-, Iofol Cthou lovest, &c. The
aIofoo, u loved; sIofoo, q nave loved). uoio6, Il
had loved). otofo6, u shall love-, uofoo, u all
have loyed) The additional prenxing u the letter
loved: pul6fob, u shall have been loyedD, &C.
Isn't tnat simple? The interrogarive Is formed BY
aflxing q and The imperative oy adding Cd 90 the
ciously too, by being always placed on the last
syllable. And 80 on throughout the language,
very little more 70 tell OF the construction; nave
given you nearly the whole scheme.
Nov don't get Tue Impression that V0lap6k Is
N an pril rf
Is not, any more than machinery is des.gned to
displace hand labor. volaplk Is Intended 10 fill a
place thai none o. the otner languages can NIL or
has been abe 70 Ill, since the time or Babel Two
iasurmountabse obstacles prevent tue adoption Of
sny other language for International purposes
cicncolty OF acquisition. and the connect Of ma
lect Is, a. have said. 70 facilitate intercourse,
both business and social, between the people OF
languages In communicating with one another
-it Is the hope Of the volapnkists as expressed
In their motto. Menad Bal, Puk Ball. zone hu-
eventually De taken up and learned by all edu-
earec persons next after their mother tongue, and
mat may =, DC taught ~ sae higher SCHOOLS
on account Of Its utility. and As an accomplish
Inent, the knowleuge OF II u well worth the little
fun of Il a. being cniinericai In It's Objects, but
such people do not Know what IL Is, or the deep
erudltion Of It's inventors polymath, may cali
hlm-tae fruit OF whose study should be entitled
10 a great deal or respect.
"No, there Is little danger OF dissensions or
changes. An academy has been formed wnich VIII
have Jurisdiction over all questions relating 70 the
Language. IL had q meeting at Munich last year,
and Was largely attended
saiutation. How are yeu? IS Lilo stouolss Your
Answer, AN very well, would be ISrado0 benuao.
No kape.oo otsa, Is do not understand you; kisi
yes sir; yolapak L. making great strides. Keep
Jour eye OMIT
"Good-dAy. GndL solS